Player Potential

[pdxmuskie]

The Providence game has me thinking that Nunge might be a far more special player than any of us realize. Most are familiar with the notion that some players always seem to have another gear when needed. The question is simply what allows a player to access that next gear?

Nunge commits the grave mistake of calling a TO the team doesn't have. He drains a 3 and then he suddenly comes out of nowhere to block the game winning shot (yes this block is negated because of Jones grabbing the rim but irrelevant to the defensive play by Nunge).

Another game, Nunge again blocks the game winning shot, unfortunately, the deflection ends up in the hands of the other team and they still get the winning bucket.

Against Providence, Nunge misses the front end, allowing Providence a slim chance of winning. He again recovers in a big way and gets a block at the other end, holding Xavier's lead.

In 2 of the above 3 situations, Nunge is simply making up for a mistake he made (this is a common motivator for many who can access another gear). The 3rd example is simply securing the win, which both of the other 2 also fall into. I could be wrong, but I think Nunge is capable of much more than his already very good play. Unfortunately, even if I'm right, someone would have to unlock how to get the extra production out of him.

Hopefully the NCAA tournament naturally brings it out of him or the opponent makes a mistake and motivates him to play at the next level.

I want to be very clear that this does not indicate that Nunge is giving minimal effort. Players that have this ability generally play hard all game. They are simply capable of playing beyond their ability under the right circumstances. This could also be a bunch of BS but it hits home for me so I roll with it.

[muskieman]

A mistake can focus a player, I agree. The alternative is they try too hard, which usually ends up in a foul. Sometimes a game comes to a player, and sometimes it doesn't. Last night was enjoyable because, at the end of the game, the game came to Colby and Souley; there were times that Sean or others thought the game should have run through Jack (good thing it didn't). I would like it when we get the ball at the rim and Jack finished, and at other times I get frustrated when he misses a bunny and say, "Just dunk it." Last night he dunked several times, and that made me smile

[Kevin Reilly]

Nunge made a great block at the end of the game. But to think there is a lot more potential there might be a stretch. Jack is 24 already and has played five years of college ball. The first three he was hurt and didn't play to much. The last two years he has averaged 14 points a game and around 7-8 rebounds. Excellent numbers and maybe 2nd team All league. I hope I'm wrong but what we see is what he is. A very good college player. Hope he proves me wrong and goes on a tournament run like Murphy did. Seems like a great guy and teammate but not sure he has much more to give.

[pdxmuskie]

I agree that Nunge isn't going to develop more and also suspect he is going to generally give X what he has been all season - a mix of great games, good games and disappointing games.

My comments relate to the mental aspect of production. Many are familiar with the notion of being "in the zone", which is simply when a player can't miss. Generally, they know when they release the ball, it is going in. The confidence in part, fuels the execution. Other aspects of the game function the same way. A player will suddenly defend at a level they generally don't defend at or rebound, etc. Often there is a trigger. It could simply be committing a stupid turnovers gets the juices flowing and they smother their guy on the other end until that player coughs it up. Could be trash talk by an opposing player or fans. JP had a tendency of going off on the road because he loved silencing the crowd.

Some may recall Kenny Frease suddenly played at a whole new level to close out his senior year. I can't recall if his elevated play started with a few games left in conference play or during the conference tournament but it was late in the year. Something happened to inspire him.

It is fairly common for players to on average play beneath their ability. Many need a psychological trigger to play at an elevated level. Nunge might fall into this camp though at a more muted level. He generally plays at a high level minus a few bad games but he is likely capable of more on the defensive end. The lack of depth however, may be the real reason he doesn't have a bigger presence on D. When Nunge gets in foul trouble, the team often struggles so he may simply be playing conservative to avoid fouls.

[kyzrex]

Why so many senior players elevate their play in their final days is simply a renewed focus mentally.

PDX talks about being in “the zone”. For all of those that have been there, it’s something special. Something that you never forget. For us mortals, it’s something that happened a few times in our careers, and probably only for a short time at that. I imagine that for the great players it is something more common. I can’t explain how or why it happens. But I can sit here right now and remember how it felt. It was like putting on armor and knowing that nothing can harm you and no one can stop you. It was like being able to see what was going to happen before it happened. The game slowed down all around you, but you were able to move smoothly and confidently without even thinking about what you were doing. It just happened. You anticipated what was going to happen, it happened that way, and you were in the right position at the right time to take advantage of it. It is entering mental. What is happening right there is all that you see and feel and the crowd and everything else just fades away. You make a move, you take a shot, you defend, and it’s just effortless. Your body and your mind are in synch completely. It’s almost an out of body experience. You don’t think that you’re going to be successful, you KNOW it. Taking a winning shot when you’re in the zone is easy.

But I’m not talking about senior players being “in the zone”. Being there is something that can happen to any player, at any time, and can’t be sustained for very long. Even the great players probably can’t sustain it for more than a game or two at most.

The challenge for most athletes isn’t to have the will to win, it’s to have the will to do what is needed in order to win. Are they willing to push themselves both physically and mentally to the levels needed to win? Are they willing to bear the pain that goes with that? do they have the courage to push beyond the mental and physical fatigue they feel? Or are they going to say “I can’t”, and let it go at that. Larkin talks all the time about players having the “courage” to take a big shot. When I first heard that, I thought to myself that he was crazy. I mean it’s not like charging a pillbox, or stopping a shooter. It just a BB game. No one is in any physical danger for taking a shot. But what he is really talking about is having the courage to not let one’s doubts and fears stop them from doing something. No one wants to be the player that missed the last shot, so most people will just pass the ball and let someone else do it. The great players have the courage to accept the heat that would come with missing that shot. They are the ones that are willing to go all out to make the defensive play that wins the game, knowing that they could also be the goat of the game. Nunge may not be a “great” player, but his block was a great play, and it took courage on his part to make that play. That wasn’t him being in “the zone”, it was him having courage. IMO the seniors that up their game at the end of their careers are courageous more than anything.